Hot-water heating apparatus.



J. F. CUNNINGHAM.

HOT WATER HEATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY12, 191s.

1,084,1 35. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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J. F. CUNNINGHAM.

HOT WATER HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1913.

1,084,1 35. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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"(INITED s'rArrns PATENT orriea.

JOHN F. CUNNINGHAIVI, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

HOT-WATER HEATING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hot-VVater Heating Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in hot water heating apparatusand particularly to pressure generators therefor.

One object of the invention is to provide a pressure generator of thischaracter whereby the expansion of the water is confined in the pipes ofthe system until a predetermined pressure over and above the naturalpressure is obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressure generator ofthis character which will be simple and inexpensive in construction,efficient, reliable and automatic in operation and which may be readilyinstalled in any hot water heating system.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of aportion of a heating system illustrating the application of theinvention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the generator showing theexpansion tank of the heating apparatus broken away and in section; Fig.3 is a side View of my improved generator and a portion of one of thehot water pipes, parts being broken away and in section; Fig. 4: is aside View of the separating chamber of the generator taken from theopposite side from that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a horizontal.sectional view of the generator taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6is a similar view taken on the line (3-6 and looking toward the lowerend of the separating chamber.

My improved pressure generator comprises a mercury chamber 1 having onone side and at the lower end thereof an extension 2 in the upper sideof which and spaced a suitable distance apart are threaded apertures 3and 4:. In the top of the main por tion of the mercury chamber is alsoformed a centrally disposed threaded aperture 5.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 12, 1913.

Patented Jan. 13, 113E1 1.

Serial No. 787,167.

1 Thebottom of the extension 2 of the mercury chamber is on a slightlylower plane or level than the bottom of the main portion of the chamber,and the bottom 1 of said main portion of the chamber inclines downwardlytoward the bottom 2 of the extension as shown.

Connected with the aperture 5 in the main portion of the mercury chamberis a hot water pipe 6 which may be of any desired length and connectedto any pipe of the heating apparatus or system. to which the generatoris applied. Connected respectively with the apertures 3 and 4-. in theextension 2 are mercury circulating tubes 7 and 8. The tubes 7 and 8 maybe of any suitable length and the upper end of the tube 8 is connectedwith the bottom of the main portion of a separating chamber 5) while theupper end of the tube 7 is connected with an oii'set or extension 10 ofsaid chamber and which communicates therewith.

Connected with the top or upper end of the main portion of theseparating chamber is an expansion pipe 11 which connects with theexpansion tank T of the heating apparatus and with the upper end ofwhich connected the usual overflow pipe 0 as shown. It will be notedthat the bottom 9" of the main portion of the separating chamberinclines in all directions from the sides of the chamber toward thecenter thereof and that the upper end of the tube 8 is connected withthe center or lowest part of the bot tom, so that the mercury enteringthe separating chamber from the tube 7 will run freely toward the centerof the chamber and into the tube 8.

The operation of my improved pressure generator is as follows: Ashereinbefore stated the pipe 6 may be connected with any pipe of theheating apparatus. In the mercury chamber and extension is placed thedesired quantity of mercury as indicated at m in Fig. 3 of the drawings.lVhen heated the water will enter the mercury chamber through the pipe 6and when the expansion of the water has increased and suilicientpressure thus created to force the mercury out of the chamber 1 and intothe extension 2 the mercury will rise in the tubes 7 and 8. As soon asthe level of the mercury in the chamber 1 reaches the plane of the lowerend of the tube 7 the latter will be unsealed and water will escapetherethrough, but this tube will be unsealed earlier than the tube 8because it is nearer to said chamber. The mercury in the tube 7 will beforced up into the extension 10 of the separating chamber 9 and will runtherefrom into the separating chamber and from thence into the tube 8,thus permitting the water to enter the expansion pipe and tank. At thesame time the pressure of the column of mercury in the tube 8 will beapplied to the water in the nercury chamber and lower portion of' thistube.

Any fluctuation in the pressure of the water will cause the mercury torise into the tubes 7 and 8 as will be readily understood. The expansiontank will be placed above the highest radiator of the apparatus in theusual manner and the generator will be connected to the expansion pipe11 at a sufiicient distance from the expansion tank to cause the waterin the tank to create a pressure of one pound on the mercury in thegenerator. As the water cools and again contracts it will force its wayback again into the system or pipes of the apparatus through the tube 7as the resistance at the point between the lower ends of the tubes 7 and8 in the extension 2 of the mercury chamber will be very slight.

By means of a pressure generator constructed in accordance with myinvention it will be seen that the expansion of the water in the heatingsystem will be resisted and the pressure created by the expansionallowed to increase until a predetermined point is reached, this pointbeing determined by the quantity of mercury placed in the mercurychamber. This increased pressure on the water permits the same to beheated to a higher temperature without generatlng steam.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the invention will bereadily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A pressure generator for hot water heating apparatus consisting of amercury chamber adapted to be connected with the water circulating pipesof the apparatus, a hollow extension projecting laterally from andcommunicating with said chamber, a superimposed separating chamber,nercury circulating tubes connected at their lower ends with saidextension at diiferent distances from the main portion of the mercurychamber and at their upper end with the separating chamber, and mercuryin the mercury chamber, the whole for use substantially as described.

2. A pressure generator for hot water heating apparatus comprising amercury chamber adapted to be connected with the water circulating pipesof the apparatus, an extension on said chamber having its bottom in alower plane than the bottom of the mercury chamber, the bottom of saidmercury chamber being inclined toward the bottom of the extension,nercury in said mercury chamber and extension, a separating chamher, andmercury circulating tubes connected at their lower ends with saidextension at diiferent distances from said mercury chamber and at theirupper ends with said separating chamber whereby when the mercury isforced out of said mercury chamher and up into the tubes one of thelatter will be unsealed earlier than the other.

3. A pressure generator for hot water heating apparatus consisting of amercury chamber adapted to be connected with the water circulating pipesof the apparatus, a hollow extension projecting laterally from andcommunicating with said chamber, a superimposed separating chamberhaving its bottom converging toward its center and a lateral extensionfrom one side communicating with the interior of this chamber, verticalmercury circulating tubes connected at their lower ends with theextension of the mercury chamber at diiferent distances from the mainportion of the mercury chamher, and the upper end of that tube which isnearest said chamber being connected with the extension of theseparating chamber while the upper end of the other tube is connectedwith the center of the body portion of said separating chamber, andmercury in the mercury chamber, the whole for use substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. WRIGHT, JOHN W. FAIRBANKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

